Work holding and feeding device for buttonhole-sewing machines.



PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907.

, B. B. ALLEN. WORK HOLDING AND FEEDING DEVICE FOR BUTTONHOLE SEWINGMACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.30. 1906.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907.

-E. B. ALLEN. WORK HOLDING AND FEEDING DEVICE FOR BUTTONHOLE SEWINGMACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.30. 1906- 7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907.

E. B. ALLEN.

WGRK HOLDING AND FEEDING DEVICE FOR BUTTONHOLE SEWING MAGHIN AYPLIOATIONI'ILBI) 001230. 1906.

' Nth-864,117; Q A PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907.

Y E. B. ALLEN;

WORK HOLDING A'ND'FEBLDI'NG DEVICE P011" BUTTONHOLE SEWING MACHINESAPPLICATION-FILED 00130. 1906. l

'i SHEETS-SHEET PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907- B. B. ALLEN. I WORK HOLDING ANDFEEDING DEVICE FOR BUTTONHOLE SEWING MACHINES.

= APPLICATION FILED 00513.30. 1908.

' Smwon'ioz:

PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907. E. ALLEN. WORK 1101111111; AND FEEDING DEVICE 1011 BUTTONHOLE SEWING MACHINES.

APPLIGATIQII IZL'ED 0OT,30'. 190.6,

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

7: .lIIIIllhiIl-2' PAIENTED AUG. 20, 1907;

, E. B. ALLEN. WORK HOLDING AND FEEDING DEVICE FOR BUTTONHOLE SEWINGMACHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED OOT.30, 1906,

7 SHEETSSHEET 7.

Y Sawewto' V WW /4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. EDWARD B. ALLEN, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR'TO THE SINGERMANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

WORK HOLDING AND FEEDING DEVICE FOR BUTTONHOLE-SEWING- MACHffi'ES'.

Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1907.

Original application filed March 7, 1906, Serial No. 304,732. Dividedand this application filed October 30, 1966.

.. Serial No. 341.201.

" To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD B. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States,formerly of Elizabeth, New Jersey, but now residing at Bridgeport, inthe county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented ordiscovered certain new and useful Improvements in Work Holding andFeeding Devices for Buttonhole-Stitching Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates more particularly to the workholding and feedingdevices of buttonhole stitching 1 machines, and has for its object toprovide work-holding and feeding devices, for this class of machines,which will be comparatively simple and inexpensive in construction, andwhich will require but little power for their operation, as also toguard against any accidental opening of the work-clamp during abuttonhole stitching operation.

A preferred form of the invention has been embodied in the machineadapted for stitching eyed buttonholes fully shown and described in myapplication, Serial No. 304,732, filed March 7, 1906, but the invention,or some features thereof, may be used in connection with other forms ofbuttonhole stitching machines than that shown in my said application,and of which the present case is a division.

The machine of my said prior application comprises a stationary frame onwhich the stitchforming devices are mounted for periodical rotation andrelative to which stitch-forming devices the work-clamp is fed or causedto travel lengthwise of the buttonholes beneath the needles, forproperly spacing the stitches; the said work-clamp being mountedonpivoted arms so as to be adapted to be swung laterally in workingportions of the eyes of the button-holes and in barring the buttonholes.Also the present improved machine comprises an automatic button-holecutting device which, when abutton-hole is to be cut, is automaticallycoupled to a,

continuously moving lever or part and which is so operated that thecutter is advanced to the work, the buttonhole is cut and the cutter isthen instantly retracted and automatically uncoupled from its operatingdevice;

after which the stitching'mechanism is automatically set into operationto stitch and bar a button-hole; and when the working of a button-holehas been completed the machine is automatically stopped, as fully setforth in my said application, No. 304,732. c

In the accompanying drawings, Figure .1 is a side view of a buttonholestitching machine embodying the present invention, and Fig. 2 is avertical longitudinal section of the same. 3 is a transverse sectionalview on the line of the feed shaft, looking toward the rear of themachine. 4 is a front end view ofthe machine with the face plate oftherhead removed, and with the front end of the machine base in section.Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line of the feed machine,and 13 the bracket-arm surmounting said base, said parts constitutingthe stationary frame of the machine on which the stitch-forming devicesare preferably rotatively mounted, so as to be adapted to be turned, andon which the work-supporting and buttonhole cutting devices are movablymounted. Journaled in the said base 12 is the main or driving shaft 14on,

which is loosely mounted the driving pulley 15 having a suitable clutchconnection with said shaft.

The driving shaft 14 is constructed with twin quar tering cranks 21connected by pitmen 22 with similar cranks 23 on the rotating needle-barshaft 24 journaled in the upper part of the arm and provided at itsforward end with cranks connected by pitmen with two out-of-timeneedle-bars 25 carrying needles 25; said needle-bars being operated inthe manner fully set forth in U. S. Patent No. 739,132, granted Sept.15, 1903. The needle-bars 25 reciprocate vertically in a rotatable guide27 suitably mounted in the head of the machine, as fully set forth in U.S. Patent No. 734,794, granted July 28, 1903, and said guide is providedwith a pinion 28 by which it may be rotated.

Theloop-taking devices cooperating with the needles 26 are operativelyconnected with the forward end of the shaft 14 and are preferably thesame in construcshown and described in said U. S. Patent No. 734,794,saidloop-taking devices being mounted on a rotatable carrier 29 providedwith a pinion'30 by which it may be turned. v v I The work-supportcomprises a plate or table 31 having depending ears 32 by which it isjointed w the u per ends of swinging arms 33 attached to sliding rods 34longitudinally movable in lugs or supports 35 on the base 12. By thusmounting the said work-supporting plate or table on horizontal pivots ateach side thereof, and which pivots connect the said depending ears 32with the upper ends of the said swinging arms shaft, looking down. Fig.6 is a detail view of the .33, the said plate or table may be maintainedin a per- Referring to the drawings, 12 denotes the base of the v tionand operation as the loop-taking devices fully fectly horizontalposition as it is swung laterally, which would not be the case if thesaid plate or table were rocked on a single pivotal center of motion. Inpractice the arms 33 on each side of the work-supporting frame willpreferably be connected by one or more longitudinal bars 34, as shown indotted lines in Fig. 11, tostrengthen and steady the saidwork-supporting frame. The loWe'r-clamp-plates 35 are attached to,

plates 36 mounted'on the table 31 and adapted to be moved laterallytowards and from each other in a well known manner, by any suitablemeans, for the purpose of spreading the work after a button-hole hasbeen cut. The upper clamping plates or clamping feet 37 g are carried atthe forward ends of clamp-arms 38 at- 5 tached to rocking blocks 39pivotally mounted on plates or blocks 40 secured to the plates 36.Journaled in suitable bearings at the rear ends of the plates 36 is arock-shaft 40 provided with cams 41 against which blocks 42 at'the rearends of the clamp arms 38 are pressed by the stress of torsional springs43 at the pivots of said arms; said springs thus serving to open theclamp by lifting the forward ends of said clamp arms when theclamp-closing cams on the rock-shaft 40 are I in-sucli position as topermit the clampingplates or '25 feet '37 to be lifted by said springs.The said shaft 40 i is also provided with a small arm or tappet 44 toengagea clamp-spreader operating-plate 45, which, however, forms no partof the present invention. The rock-shaft 40 is provided. at one end withan arm 46 to be connected by a rod 47 with a suitable heel-and-toetreadle for the purpose of turning the said rock-shaft to close and openthe clamp.- r

The main shaft 14 is provided with a grooved cam 56 entered by a stud 57on an arm 58 of a rocker 59, said rocker having a second arm 60 to whichis adjustably connected one end of a link 61 the other end of which ispreferably adjustably attached to a vibrating arm 62 for operatingclutch-dogs 63 which impart an intermittent rotation, in a well-knownmanner, to a wheel 6&1 fixed to a feed-shaft 65 from which thelongitudinal feeding movements and the lateral movements of thework-clamp, as also the rotating or turning movements ofthestitch-forming devices are derived. The adjustable connections of thelink 61 with the arms 60 and 62 provide for a wide'variation of thefeed, so

that the button-hole stitches may be more or less closely spaced, as maybe desirablejor differentkirids of work. The said shaft 65 carries afixed cam-wheel 66 provided with a grooved cam 67 entered by a stud atthe upper end of a feed-lever 68 to which is adjustably attached one endof a link or pitman 69 the other for a wide adjustment of the lengthwisetraveling movements of the work-clamp so that button-holes of varyinglengths, from very short to very long, may be stitched on the improvedmachine. Alsofixed to said shaft is a cam-cylinder 71 having aperipheral 65 cam-groove entered by a pin or stud at the rear end of alever 72 carrying at its forward end a second pin or stud 73 enteringa'groove in an arm 7- 1 rigid with the table 31 so as to swing the saidtable and the workclamp carried thereby laterally when portions of theeyes of the button-holes are being stitched and also in barring saidbutton-holes, such barring being effected atthe reverse rotations of thestitch-forming devices, in much the same manner as in the machine ofPatent No. 734,794, hereinbefore referred to, excepting that in thepresent improved machine the work preferably has slightmovements,lengthwise of the button-holes, during the barring operations, for thepurpose of forming straight cross-stitch bars as shown in U. S. PatentNo. 735,433, granted Aug. 4 1903,

rather than the radial-stitch bars of said Patent No."

same whether the machines be run at high or low speeds. In stitchingeyed or eyelet-ended buttonholes it is, however, desirable to increasethe speed of rotation of the iced-wheel when the radiating stitchesabout the eyelet ends of the button-holes are being formed, to preventimproper crowding of such radiating stitches; and tothis end it has beennecessary, in many increase of feed will occur during the time when thestitch-forming devices are performing their rotating movements; To thisend a friction block 150, arranged to be pressed against the peripheryof the feed-wheel 64, is mounted in a holder 151 within which 'is alsoplaced a somewhat stiff spring 152 which, when compressed, yieldinglyforces said friction-block against said wheel.

Pivoted to the base or frame of the machine is a bellcrank lever 153 thelonger arm of which is provided with a stud entering a cam-groove 154 inthe outer face of the feed-wheel 64, and the shorter arm of said levercarries an adjustablescrew pin 155 projecting through ahole in theholder 151 so as to engage said spring 152 to compress the same againstthe friction block 1-50 during the times when the sides of thebutton-holes are being stitched; said lever being operated so that thepressure of the screw-pin 155 against said spring 152 is released ingdevice is tripped when the work-clamp is closed,

and also in which the cutting device is controlled by the startingdevice, the clamp should be held closed dent an automatic devicefor'locking-ror holding the clamp closed'during a stitching operationisprovided.

To..this end the machine comprises'alclainp locking lever 156 which ismoved to and retained inlocking position by a spring 157; and the feedwheel 64 is provided with a cam .or projection 158 to x stitching of abutton-hole hasbeencompleted.

' In the present instance, the locking'leve r is so ranged that itsinner-end, when in locking position, is above and closely adjacent theco1lar'159of a foot-piece 160 attached to a rod 161 connectedto thetension-ref leasinglever 162, .said foot-piece resting one tension--releasing cam 163 on the work-clamp opening and closing rock-shaft 40;so that when the inner end oi-said .locking lever is above said collarit willprevent said rock-shaft from being turnedto open the clamp;butwhen the cam projection 158 on the iced-wheel engages the'outer armof said clamp-locking lever the inner thereof will be withdrawnfrom'above said collar. and

the clamp maythen be opened; Itwill-be under? stood, however, thatrtheautomatic'clamp locking' de vice might be differentlyconstructedmnd-lananged' without departingl'rom this feature of theinvention.-

The side swinging work-support or table 31, 511 the work-clamp ismounted, is an of the improved machine inthat it affords a consts'uctionand sliding rods 34 move veryieasily in their bearing lugs or supports'35"; To permitthe said rodatorock freely relative to the cross-bar'Z0', to which the operat ing pitman 69 is attached, the said cross-baris forked at its ends to embrace collars 197 which are secured to androck' with said rods; while the are ireeto rock in the forks 198 of saidThe entire longitudinally movable and laterally swinging work-supportingflame, while light and strong and easily operable, is also oi suchconstruction that it maybe made at a low cost, thus combining ease and.efilciency of operationwith economy in making. 1 I 4 It will of coursebe understood that the present invention is not limited to the detailsherein shown and described, as such details may be varied widely withoutdeparting trom the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention I claim and de' sire' to secure byLetters Patent:

1. In a button-hole stitching machine, the combination .withstitch-forming devices, of a longitudinally reciprocating work-supportor table which is mounted on horizontal pivots so as-to be adapted to beswung laterally, a

rndvable lengthwise of g device for preventing the said engage the outerarm of said lever, to release it from locking position, when the J withstitch-forming devices the-sa d we: holder, a-triction' clmnismfrommeans for periodiqrlly releasingsaid friction-device during the timeswhen said-turnlngmovements are and matic mans, independent oi, themeans, for. poitivelydocldngs durin Butt n-hols Susanathelockingidevicejwhenth dclarnp'in closed position: tion and forreleasing" Io: lengthwise" moverods, 11' as-s ns for swinging saidwork-support or table laterally and for saidwork supporting framelongitudinally. "6- In a. button-hole stitching machine, the combination,ciimprisi ng'slidlngfrods mounted for lengthwise movements.onihe'ma'chineframe, arms attached tosaid sliding rods,

'lifworlr support or table having jointed connections with a upper endsof. said arms, a w'ork clampmounted on :swingingl said work-support ortable laterally and for- Ieeding said work-supporting framelongitudinally.

' 7. In'a-hutton-hole stitching machine, the combination withstsitcl'i-forming devices, of a. worksupporting frame gcomprisingvertically disposed, swlnging arms and a work- 105 support or tablehaving jointed connections with the tops 101- said arms, and automaticmeans for swinging said work-support o'rtablelaterallfand for feedingsaid worksupporting frame longitudinally.

supporting frame longitudinally I 9. In a button-hole stitchlng machine,the combination with stitch-forming devices, of a laterally swinging andsupport or table laterally and for feeding said workon horizontal pivotsat its work-support o1- tablewill be maintained in a correct horizontalposition throughout its lateral swinging move ments, 9. work-clampmounted on'and movable with said support or table laterally and forreciprocating the same longitudinally. p I

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature, in presence of two-witnesses.7

EDWARD B. ALLEN.

Witnesses F. W. Osrnbm,

E. L. Ton-mes.

tion device when it is desired to lncrease'thez'fejed; 7

and s work-holder, of

4. In a-button-liole stitcliing machine,- the conif'qina tion --aiworl;r}'clamp, (Starts: clamp closlng and opening chin'gof ahutton-holehas machine, the combination {work-supporting frame trams, arms'attachedto said sliding stitching machine, the combination- 5 overthrovz'ingmeans for impartin periodical turning '75 movements to saidstitch-formin gd ces, -and automatic '1'.

or-' 'table having" 'jointed connections with stitclnfotmingdevlces,- ofa work-supporting frame said" work-support or table and automatic m'eansfor 8. In 'a buttoii-hole stitching machine, the combination 1 or table,and automatic means for swinging said work? 11 longitudinallyreciprocating work-support or table mounted opposite sides so that saidworksupport or table, and means for swinging said work-

